Environment & Climate Change

Urban councils should consider recycling as a priority in waste management

 

The waste generated in Zimbabwe presents opportunities for the waste recycling industry. Waste is a raw material  used to produce something ‘new’. Waste recycling ensures a clean and safe environment and is great potential to create wealth for individuals. Waste collection is now a livelihood of many people as they collect waste on council dump sites.

Environment Management Agency (EMA)  is now working with several innovators  in recycling. Some communities lacking in technology and resources have identified opportunities in becoming tributaries to recycling entrepreneurs adopting waste recovery and collecting as their core livelihood strategy by converting trash to cash. The benefits of recycling are varied,  but some are that they bring out business opportunities in waste management so that different stakeholders can play a part in waste management as waste now carry a price tag.

Waste impacts communities in many ways as it affects human safety, wildlife, tourism and industrial development. The depletion of the ozone layer and emission of ‘green house’ gases mainly from waste burning threatens the survival of humans and living species, the integrity of the earth and it’s  biodiversity and heritage of future generations. It is also costly to clean up the mess. Reducing the waste in communities improves the environment and contributes to a better quality of life. Recycling is processing used material into new and useful products. Material that does not rot is known as non-biodegradable waste. Most of the waste material is man made. To deal with this material, the waste has to be reprocessed, which is also called recycling. Separating waste by category is the first step to make waste reusable. Waste categories include paper, plastic, metals, K- lite, glass and organic. Separating the waste enables one to supply the various players who need different materials and prevents contamination. After separating  the waste, the material is taken to the right players for recycling.

” Virtually all forms of waste can be recycled. We pick up empty bottles of milk and juice and blend them to make bags. Plastic reels from cassettes that were used in the past can be recycled to make plastic strings used in making baskets, chairs and bins. Bottle tops are also converted into lunch box holders used by young children to carry food to school”,  said Esnath Gwalazimba from the city of Kwekwe, Zimbabwe.

Communities are a key stakeholder in alleviating the waste management challenge as 37 percent of waste generated in the country comes from residential areas, hence the involvement of communities  and urban councils will yield a significant impact to the challenge. Waste management at household level involves waste reduction, waste segregation, composting of biodegradables, waste reuse and cleaning of the environment.

Communities can set up waste management groups known as Health Clubs or Community Based Organizations (CBOs),  which can be heavily involved in environment management projects. These can be involved in waste separation and recovery of waste for recycling purposes, making artifacts from various types of waste and composting and sustaining livilihoods. CBOs can be capacitated by EMA through training, provision of protective clothing, equipment and Environment Management Plan. Urban councils can play a pivotal role in waste management by involving the community in realization that trash is cash through setting up of Community Based Organizations in their areas of jurisdiction.

Related Articles

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Back to top button